THE CHINESE Ambassador to the Philippines, Zhao Jinhua, paid a courtesy visit to President Duterte on Thursday, exactly five days before the UN tribunal is set to rule on the maritime dispute between the Manila and Beijing.
Duterte and Jinhua met in Malacañang with the presence of Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay.
“The Chinese Ambassador made a courtesy call conveying President Xi Jin Ping’s congratulations,” Presidential spokesperson Secretary Ernesto Abella said.
No other details were given about the meeting of the two officials.
The maritime dispute case between the Philippines and China over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) will be decided on July 12.
The arbitration proceedings between the two countries were first initiated in 2013 following the Scarborough Shoal standoff.
China has been conducting massive island reclamation activities in several areas of the South China Sea.
The Philippines has filed a series of diplomatic protests but China has repeatedly rejected these.